Not housing or quotas, but skill training for July martyr families, injured: Liberation War adviser

The government's rehabilitation programme for the families of July martyrs and injured July warriors does not include housing or special job quotas, but will focus on skill development and self-employment opportunities, Liberation War Ministry Adviser Farooq E Azam said today (21 July).

He was speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs' ongoing initiatives for the families affected by the July Mass Uprising.

According to the adviser, the plan will focus on training-based skill development and self-employment opportunities such as poultry, livestock and fish farming, based on the preferences and qualifications of the individuals concerned.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs was given administrative responsibility for the welfare and rehabilitation of the July Martyrs and injured on 12 December 2024. To implement these tasks, a dedicated directorate was formed on 28 April 2025.

The government officially recognised those killed during the uprising as "July Martyrs" and the injured as "July Warriors" under the July Mass Uprising Martyr Families and July Warriors Welfare and Rehabilitation Ordinance, 2025.

So far Tk259.68 crore had been spent in the 2024–2025 financial year on overseas medical treatment for the injured, savings certificates for martyr families, and one-time grants.

Gazette recognition

Based on a list from the Health Services Division, the ministry published the names of 834 martyrs in a gazette on 15 January. An additional 10 names were added on 30 June, bringing the total number of recognised martyrs to 844.

The injured were categorised by type of injury: 493 were listed as "Category A" on 27 February 2025; 908 as "Category B"; and 10,642 as "Category C" on 4 and 5 March 2025. All lists were gazetted.

A further list of 1,769 individuals—114 in Category A, 213 in Category B, and 1,442 in Category C—has recently been submitted by the Health Services Division and will be gazetted after verification.

Grants for martyr families

Each martyr family is entitled to a one-time grant of Tk30 lakh in savings certificates, distributed in two phases. In 2024–2025, Tk10 lakh in savings certificates has been given to each of 772 martyr families, totalling Tk77.20 crore.

Efforts are under way to resolve inheritance-related issues and disburse grants to the remaining 72 families. The second instalment of Tk20 lakh per family will be disbursed in the 2025–2026 financial year.

Grants for July Warriors

Under the scheme, Category A July Warriors are entitled to Tk5 lakh each in one-time grants. Of this, Tk2 lakh each—totalling Tk9.86 crore—has been disbursed.

Category B recipients are to receive Tk3 lakh each. Tk9.8 crore has already been distributed at the rate of Tk1 lakh each.

Category C recipients are entitled to Tk1 lakh each, and a total of Tk106.42 crore has already been disbursed.

In total, the government has so far provided Tk202.56 crore in one-time grants. The remaining portions of the grants for Categories A and B will be issued in the 2025–2026 financial year.

Monthly allowances and medical treatment

Each martyr family is to receive a monthly allowance of Tk20,000. Category A July Warriors will receive the same amount, while Category B and C recipients will receive Tk15,000 and Tk10,000 respectively.

The government will allocate Tk14.67 crore monthly for this purpose.

According to the Health Ministry's recommendations, 75 July Warriors have been sent abroad for advanced treatment since 5 August 2024. Of them, 46 are currently undergoing treatment in Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Russia, while 32 others are awaiting travel.

The government has spent Tk78.52 crore on their treatment abroad so far.

Rehabilitation and database development

Rehabilitation efforts will involve creating income-generating opportunities based on the skills and preferences of each individual. Training and support will be tailored to enable long-term self-reliance.

A Management Information System (MIS) is being developed to facilitate digital allowance disbursement and build a comprehensive information database on all eligible individuals.